The sun. [volume] (Morris, Stevens County, Minn.) 1882-1895, 1887-03-10

Mr. Beecher suffering from o soreness about
the throat and chest to such an ex-
tent that he feared an attack of
pneumonia These symptoms quickly
passed away and he grew better, but when
he went to bed he complained of severe
pain in the head After a while he dropped
off TO sleep, but awoke at intervals all
through the night Toward morning he
vomited considerably. Mrs Beecher re-
manned in constant ate ndsnce upon him all
night After daylight he began to improve,
and by the time the doctor called he was
better Through Friday his condition was
favorable quieting all alarm felt by the
family He did not feel well enough to get
up, however, and was compelled to remain
away from the prayer meeting on Friday
night
NUMEROUS INQUIRIES
were made about his illness after the meet
ing, but as the family and physician felt
sure that everything would be all right In a
few days, no general alarm was caused
This morning however, sudden change for
the worse took place. 1t was OF such an
alarming character that DR.. William A. Ham,
mond OF this city was hastily summoned He
and Dr. Searle made an examination, and de-
clared that Mr.. Beecher was suffering from
an apoplectic attack. He lay in semi
comatose condition, but was reused by the
efforts of the doctors. Neither consciousness
nor his uatailing sense Of humor had quite
forsaken him.
Can you raise your arm. DR.. Beecher9" asked
Yes, | guess So" came the low reply.
How high can you raise ltI
well, high enough to hit you DOCTOR, sa1o
the clergyman with feeble smile.
He did not seem TO be suffering any pain,
and when approached by Mrs Beecher and
other members of the family he looked up
as though he recognized them and knew
what was going on. Later on in the after
noon, however, he closed his eyes and sunk
into partial Inconsistencies. Mrs Beecher
and Dr.. Hammond were standing by his
bedside discussing In whispers the
chances of saving his life, when
Mrs Beecher suddenly suggested
that perhaps her husband understood
what they were saying The doctor told her
to ask him, and bending low Mrs Beecher
said: sHenry, Henry, do you know what we
said about YOU" NIL Beecher seemed to
make supreme effort His lips Enclosed,
and his breath came more quickly. His right
hand opened and closed convulsiyely
and at last a murmur of words came forth
that>fell upon ears strained to the utmost
But the eyes never opened; "You-were-say-
ing-that-I- could-not-recover--" was the dis
jointed sentence so painfully uttered. Then
STRANGE THING HAPPENED
The words seemed as If spoken in q dream,
but the shadow of smile fluttered across
the noble mouth only to vanish into an
expression almost Of Indifference The in
tonatiou of Mr. Beecher's voice expressed
absolute indifference, as if he spoke of the
chances of life and death Of an entire
stranger. There was neither hope nor hope
lessness: neither gladness or sorrow. These
were the last words he uttered The story
of Mr. Beecher's alarming condition was not
made known until after noon, and even then
it travelled slowly. There have been SO
many grouaGless rumors about his health
within the last few years that few were dis
posed to credit what was said about 1t
to-day A visit to his house In hicks
street, however, showed that it was
true. The first bulletin was issued at
O'Clock. 1t was pinned to the front door.
and stated that Mr.. Beecher had an attack
of apoplexy; that he was suffering no pain.
and that bulletins would be issued hourly.
SUNDAY TELEGRAMs.
With the second visit Of Dr.. W. A. Ham,
mond to the Plymouth PASTORS residence,
Brooklyn. to-day. the last lingering hope OF
Mr. Beecher's recovery was abandoned DR..
Hammond was driven to the house at 2:3O
D. III. He found his illustrious patient in
state of profound cana So complete was
the paralysis of the senscTial nerves that
when the physician pinched the flesh OF the
left side until his nails met, MIR. Beecher
failed to evince the faintest evidence of
pain. Even when DR.. Hammond lifted the
left eyel1d and pressed with his finger the
eyeball. the delicate muscles did not twitch.
similar experiment on the right eye, how
ever, produced slight shrinking and mus
cular contraction, but there was no evidence
of active sensibility. The act of swallow
ing was attended with even greater diff
Guilty than on Saturday and the desire for
food was gone. The throbbing of the heart
was MISUNDERSTANDING il, every third, fourth
or fifth pulsation failed to complete it's
action, and it was only question OF a few
hours before every second pulsation would
be suspended until the heart was stilled for
ever
Mr.. Beecher will Aeyer know this earth again,
at least not to mortal sense said DR.. Hammond
on his return from Brooklyn: "he recognizes no
one about him. and makes no responses OF any
kind to questions addressed TO him."
Docs he feel any pain, or even physical dis
None whatever: it is such death as l would
like to suffer. only less protracted; blood YES
sci Of the brain has ruptnred. This might have
resulted from any sudden exertiOn, not neces-
sariIy severe If the blood vessel was already worn
by years of mental activity that had ceas-
lessly kept the minute and threadlike tissues Of
the esrebrellum ple5horic with blood. 1t is true
that the patient may recover Il the attack is not
cines that we can give him. Mr. Beecher's case
is not different from many others have been
called dna upon Sevos 10 f asnS n%
quiet. his head well elevated and
IN a room. when possible where the temperature
is about 60 deg. and thoroughly ventilated. Mr.
Beesher is being nourished solely by stimulants
which must be used with caution. / gave him
hypodermicallv s4 injection OF brandy. which
would have made healthy man wildly 1ntoxi-
Gated, but which produced no effect upon him"
DR.. W. Tod Helmuth, who was called in
consultation to Mr.. Beecher to-day, said on
his return to his home in the city:
when reached Mr.. Beecher's bedside at half
past IL o'clock he wac entirely unconscious; his
breathing was stertorous and his face was pur-
pie The pupils OF his ewes failed to respond to
side was completely paralyzed. and the right
side presented all the symptoms Of cerebral apo
plexy; Mr. Bsechsr 4: + was plain at a glance
did you make any effort to rouse him?"
AT my request his son called to him cloee to
his ear Is loudly as possible, but there was not
spoon to his tongue failed to cause spasmodic
attempt te swallow, The only evidence Of
strength the patient showed was in lifting his
right hand to his face and brushing it, feebly, OF
COURSE as one asleep would do in pain or when
annoyed"
Gould anything be done to prolong his ltfe?"
His physicisDs while was present Admins
be somewhat prolonged, but that fs all When
left the room 1t was with the understanding
that would return only IL sent for. think
there will never be hope enough again to require
my presence. Mr.. Beecher's career has been
that Of . very great man. It is ended"
Henry Ward Beecher was born ct Litchfleld,
Conn, on June "a 1919. His father was Rev.
DR.. Lyman Beecher, who began life as black
| smith and rose to be the leader Of orthodoxy in
New Eneland; ME. beecner was graduated 1t
| Ct Lane Seminary and, 1887, became the pastor
Of chnrch et Aswrencebure he removed to